2018-05-10T19:53:10ZSTRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH POOR LEARNER SAFETY IN THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCE TOWNSHIP SECONDARY SCHOOLS: TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGYhttp://hdl.handle.net/11462/1340
STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH POOR LEARNER SAFETY IN THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCE TOWNSHIP SECONDARY SCHOOLS: TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL SAFETY STRATEGY
TSHATSHU, UMZIUVUKILE JAMES
In this research study the phenomenon of learners’ safety in the North-West
Province schools was explored. Learners’ safety in South African schools is of
paramount importance, as all over in the world, to strive to create an optimum
environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning. An environment
where the teachers can teach and learners can learn. The environment that is
conducive to learning is characterized by the absence of bullying, corporal
punishment, gang violence around the school premises, alcohol and drugs abuse
and vandalism of the school property.
The realization of learning where there is an improvement in performance is
practically possible when learners get the support and protection from home, in
addition to the environment that is conducive to effective learning and teaching at
school. Homes are expected to be stable environments with no incidents of child
abuse.
The South African Constitution guarantees equality and equal protection by the law
to all, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Also enshrined in the Constitution is the protection of human dignity, the right to education and to be educated under safe
conditions, and the right to privacy. The creation of the safe school environment
resonated in the South African Schools Act, which stipulates the involvement of all
stakeholders in schools. The involvement of stakeholders refers to the
representation of the parents in School Governing Bodies (SGB) and the learners
representation in the Representative Council of Learners (RCL). The duty of the
SGB is amongst others, but not limited to budget and drafting of the learner code of
conduct. The SGB has to ensure that school safety policy and safety plan takes into
consideration the creation of the safe school surroundings.
South Africa’s past was characterized by inequality in respect of the education
budget, which resulted in township schools being disadvantaged. The schools that
were affected most faced challenges such as inadequate control over unauthorized
access to school premises, damaged fences or no fence at all, while former model C schools received sufficient budget from the de facto government which could be
used to install CCTV cameras, remote-controlled gates and do in-service training of
teachers on school safety.
In consideration of the aforementioned situation in township schools, research was
undertaken to find solution to safety problem. Permission was obtained from the
North-West Department of Basic Education, and cooperation and assistance was
requested from participating township schools. The study was divided into qualitative
and quantitative research for learners and teachers respectively. Questionnaires
were given to teachers to complete. Learners and non-teaching staff participated in
the focus group interviews purposively sampled in four South African township
secondary schools situated in the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District in the North-West
Province. The sampled schools were labeled School A, School B, School C and
School D. The focus group responses during interviews highlighted the challenges
and the concerns of the learners regarding violence in schools. The number of
school teachers who responded to the close-ended questionnaire throughout the
North-West Province was 100. The teachers’ responses in the completed and returned questionnaires quantitatively analyzed, showed teachers’ concerns about
their safety and the safety of learners in schools. It is envisaged that the proposed
strategies to deal with poor learner safety in schools, will be adopted by schools to
address the problems of school safety highlighted in this research study.
Published Thesis
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZTHE DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOMhttp://hdl.handle.net/11462/1328
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR THE USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Louw, J. S.
The aim of this study was to explore the development of a framework for the use of Information and Communication Technology in the classroom. It was clear from the study that teachers lack Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capability, and should therefore be trained and retrained. While they are expected to produce quality education, they are also expected to receive training which is a time-consuming exercise and often makes teachers want to give up on the implementation of ICT in the classroom.
If teachers were to use ICT in the classroom, it would change the passive role of the learners in which they merely receive knowledge to a more active role where they construct their own knowledge. In addition, teachers would have the opportunity to connect with experts, and have access to global resources. Teachers should be motivated to use ICT to improve the quality of their teaching. This, together with proper ICT skills, would ensure the effective use of ICT. To ascertain the effective use of ICT by teachers, research was conducted in ten secondary schools in Bloemfontein. A random sample of 30 secondary school teachers was drawn from ten schools. A mixed methods approach was used to the collect data, i.e. qualitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (interviews). Questionnaires were administered to the participants and were then followed by unstructured interviews. The research participants were selected randomly from the study population in an unbiased manner to produce quantifiable, reliable data. Mix methods designs provide advantages when a researcher is exploring complex research questions. The findings of this study revealed that teachers have a positive attitude towards the use of ICT, and that it enables better teaching standards and educational outcomes. Teachers also have barriers that hinder them from using ICT in the classroom.
Published Thesis
2017-01-01T00:00:00ZCOMMERCIAL JEWELLERY TECHNIQUES: INNOVATING SELECTED CONTEMPORARY MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUEShttp://hdl.handle.net/11462/1325
COMMERCIAL JEWELLERY TECHNIQUES: INNOVATING SELECTED CONTEMPORARY MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES
Holmes, Eric Leslie
This study is an investigation into specialised techniques which can aid the establishment of a unique South African jewellery design style in order to enhance commercial and contemporary jewellery. The initial impetus for this investigation was informed by conclusions drawn and recommendations proffered by various previous studies which indicated that the lack of uniqueness of South African jewellery concepts as well as the replication of Western or Eurocentric trends in local jewellery have resulted in South African jewellery being an unmarketable brand abroad. The study showcases the development of diverse techniques which has increasingly become obsolete in the modern South African epoch of commercial jewellery. This study argues that the primary inclination of jewellery designers and especially from European immigrant origin to simply employ traditional African crafts, patterns and artefacts as inspiration for formulating a South African style of jewellery, has in the past traversed the portrayal of African culture as primitive. As a remedial approach this study delineates on the possibilities of designers employing and developing an auto-ethnographic design style whilst also incorporating specialist techniques in the pursuit of self-expression in jewellery design. This study argues that such an approach will lead to a more unique and representative jewellery design style and which will be a more appropriate or authentic representation of South Africa’s diversity. Considering that South Africa is a major producer of precious metals and precious stones whilst only producing roughly 2% of the world’s jewellery, the South African government has in recent years invested heavily in the jewellery industry with a view on its advancement and growth. Subsequently, this investigation additionally delineates on views of jewellery specialists on the state of jewellery design and manufacture in South Africa in order to formulate recommendations for the South African jewellery industry to propagate a progressively more mature industry.
Published Thesis
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZCUSTOMIZED FINISHING TECHNIQUES ON ENTRY LEVEL FDM 3D PRINTED ARTEFACTS IN VISUAL ARTS: An explanatory sequential study.http://hdl.handle.net/11462/1324
CUSTOMIZED FINISHING TECHNIQUES ON ENTRY LEVEL FDM 3D PRINTED ARTEFACTS IN VISUAL ARTS: An explanatory sequential study.
Pretorius, Havenga, Sarel
The aim of this study is to investigate ways to improve the quality of entry-level fused deposition modelling (ELFDM) produced artefacts, to make the technology more accessible to a wider range of prosumer and address the scale limitations of production components.
The development of entry-level 3D printed (EL3DP) technology enhances art and design by providing new techniques previously impossible; however limitations such as poor surface finish quality and size limitations are persistently observed. These limitations steer artists and designers away from utilizing this technology due to poor aesthetic value outputs. It was necessary to construct this study from within an explanatory sequential mixed method paradigm as both quantitative and qualitative data were needed to sketch a broad overview and analyse abstract concepts like aesthetic value.
Due to the lack of recorded academic information an experimental pilot study was first conducted to identify potential techniques, followed by quantitative (tensile tests and surface profile measurements) and qualitative (in depth interviews and online surveys) phases and lastly all the data was interpreted to cohesively substantiate the hypothesis.
The results show that the pre-experimental pilot study identified potential techniques that were investigated in the phases that followed. Clear evidence is shown to support the progression of ELFDM technique development by applying post-production finishing techniques (PPFTs). It also indicates that the aesthetic value of an artefact can be enhanced by applying surface finishing and assembly techniques.
This study enables a larger range of entry-level prosumer to utilize cheaper alternatives to Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies which will lessen the gap between high-end and entry-level. Furthermore by affecting the strength and surface texture of ELFDM 3D prints it has a direct influence on the aesthetic value and functionality of EL3DP artefacts.
Published Thesis
2017-01-01T00:00:00Z